Opposite hitter Natalie Tomhave goes for a kill after her teammates set it up. The Tommies were able to secure the point, despite the Royals’ attempt to block the kill. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
Middle blocker Julia Spacek and opposite hitter Natalie Tomhave work together to block a shot from the Royals. Spacek had 10 kills and three blocks this game. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
Outside hitter Brooke Reichart makes a kill. She had 10 kills total in this game against Bethel. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
Setter Hannah Schwartz sets up a kill for a teammate. Schwartz had 23 assists and 18 digs against the Royals this game. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
Middle blocker Whitney Lloyd goes in for a kill. In 2016, Lloyd made a total of 302 kills in 31 matches. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
Outside hitter Audrey Erickson makes a hit against two Royals. The Royals were unable to block the hit, resulting in a point for the Tommies. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
The team gathers as opposite hitter Natalie Tomhave spikes the ball. Last year, Tomhave had three digs in three matches. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
Outside hitter Audrey Erickson makes a save. Erickson was one of two game leaders against the Royals for number of service aces. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
The Tommies celebrate after a winning a long rally. The Tommies have been undefeated at home this season. (Esmee Verschoor/ TommieMedia)
On a night when the 2012 national championship team was honored and in attendance, the 20th-ranked St. Thomas volleyball team defeated Bethel three sets to one Friday night at Schoenecker Arena.
The Tommies (21-5 overall, 7-1 MIAC) were poised to beat the Royals (16-6 overall, 5-4 MIAC) in three sets, as they found themselves up 24-21 on the match point. The Royals battled back to force a fourth set, which the Tommies went on to win handily.
“I was really proud our girls after dropping the third set and just working on their composure,” coach Thanh Pham said. “(Bethel) pushed us and I’m just glad that our girls were able to respond.”
After a tough third-set loss, Pham’s message to the team going into the fourth set was simple: “Stick to the gameplan” and “be us.”
“They’re too good to just sleep on. They are good enough to push us, which they did. When we had a moment of mental lapse, they capitalized on it,” he said. “Thankfully, (the message) worked.”
Middle blocker Julia Spacek, who registered 10 kills and three blocks on the night, said it was her team’s defense that stood out to her.
“I think we did a really good job … picking up balls that were pushed to the deep corners,” she said.
In between the second and third sets, the home crowd celebrated the five-year anniversary of the 2012 national championship team, in which many members of that team came on the court to watch a tribute video. Spacek believes her team could be having the same celebration in five years.
“That’s definitely the potential for us,” she said.
The Tommies will host Saint Mary’s on Saturday. With three regular season games left on the schedule, Pham wants to see one thing.
“Improvement,” he said. “Improvement everyday … and that will never change with us.”
Gamiel Hall can be reached at hall0211@stthomas.edu.